DESCRIPTION:
APW - Hamilton and O'Hara, grade 992 with rare Borresen-DeLong center seconds, 16S, 14K gold OF HB&B recase with signature ring and owner's name on gold cuvette, SW-SS, signed O'Hara WED with central sunken outer minutes and seconds chapter, outer Roman numeral hour chapter, fully capped lever escapement, 21J, GJS, banded interlocking pattern NI damascene, s#886911. The center seconds arrangement of this watch (as well as the following two lots) is based on elements of designs patented by Helge A Borresen. The few known 16S Hamilton watches with this center-seconds arrangement (we are aware of three intact examples with the two in the present sale included in this count) are believed to have been modifications executed by Charles E DeLong. This example is from a run of grade 992 movements made in 1912 per the Gelson list of Hamilton production and was presumably modified by DeLong sometime shortly thereafter. DeLong had an earlier association with Borresen during the short lived McIntyre Watch Co venture of 1909 to 1911 for which DeLong was the primary designer and master watchmaker, and in 1914 DeLong created a model of his own manufacture of the Borresen center seconds watch. The hand arrangements of these Borresen designs were meant to reduce the likelihood of the hands interfering with one another. This example has its sweep seconds hand located beneath the minute and hour hands; the seconds hand rides on its own cannon pinion which can be installed together through the dial-hole, requiring a drag-spring for smooth carry which the cannon falls in next to nicely. Gross weight of assembled watch 60.1 dwt (93.4 g).
CONDITION:
Mvt: GRO, near mint mvt condition overall, no oxide; dial with edge chip and crack at 4:30, crack at 11:30; hands mint; case shows very light wear, many MFS, one back dent, two soft dings in band, crisp monogram detail; bow tight, crown shows light wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$1800
-
$2800
PRICE SOLD:
$3200
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